Supreme Court approves Jagannathji's rathyatra in Puri

During the Rathyatra, the health guidelines announced by the Central Government have to be followed

If the situation gets out of control during the Rath Yatra, the Odisha government can stop it at any time: Supreme Court

New delhi date. Monday, June 22, 2020

The Supreme Court had allowed Jagannath Puri to hold a world-famous rath yatra. At the same time, the procession will now be completed without the devotees. The apex court also said that the state government could stop the rath yatra at any time if the situation becomes uncontrollable. Earlier, the apex court had quashed the rath yatra, but re-ruled after a review petition. On June 18, the apex court had ordered not to hold Jagannath Puri's rath yatra because of Corona.

A number of review petitions followed, demanding that Jagannath Puri's rath yatra be conducted in compliance with health norms. Following a review petition filed by Jagannath Puri seeking to preserve the centuries-old tradition, the apex court quashed the old judgment and gave a fresh verdict.

The apex court had allowed the procession to be completed without the devotees following the central government's guideline pertaining to Corona. Central Government Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued in favor of holding a rath yatra, saying that if a rath yatra is not held this year, it will not be held for 12 years, as this is the tradition in Puri.

The central government said that Shankaracharya, Gajapati of Puri and Jagannath temple committee have favored the rath yatra and the rath yatra will be held as per their advice. After that argument, the apex court had asked that only the temple trust and the temple committee organize the rath yatra, then what work is the government doing to Shankaracharya in this? In reply, the Solicitor General said that he had been consulted as Shankaracharya was the supreme guru.

The central government and the state government of Odisha had favored holding the rath yatra by enforcing the rules. The apex court then allowed the state government to stop the rath yatra whenever it wanted, if the situation got out of hand.

Pandey, who is attached to the temple, will not be involved in the rathyatra, as the petitioner had expressed fears that it would create havoc. This was also upheld by the court. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court S.A. Bobade urged the state and central governments that it would be the responsibility of the local administration to ensure that there was no compromise with the health of the people.

The micro-management has to be done by the state government and the guidelines have to be followed. However, the apex court clarified that the rathyatra could not be canceled anywhere other than Puri. Everyone should be aware that this permission has been given only for the sake of maintaining the tradition of Puri.

The report of 1172 servants of the temple is negative

The Jagannath temple has 1172 servants. It takes 750 people to pull three chariots. Corona was reported to all the servants at the same time the review petition was being filed in the Supreme. The reports came as the Supreme Court was likely to ask for such a report and as part of security as well as to strengthen the argument for holding a rath yatra.

The reports of all the servants came negative. These servants pull a chariot every year to the Gundicha temple. Devotees will not be involved in the procession of the Lord, but the state government of Odisha will make arrangements so that devotees from all over the world can see the Lord through television.

The 21 applicants also included Muslim youth

Aftab Hussain, a resident of Odisha's Mayagarh district, had filed a review petition in the Supreme Court on June 19. The day after the 18th Supreme Court ruled not to hold the rathyatra, Aftab Hussain, a social worker and 19-year-old student, filed a review petition. It was argued that the Puri Rathyatra is world famous and is the identity of Odisha.

This tradition should not be broken. As the ashtra of the people of Odisha is associated with this rath yatra, a rath yatra should be allowed. A total of 21 petitions were received by various organizations and individuals for the review petition. The Supreme Court then indicated its readiness to conduct its hearing.

Curfew in Puri district to prevent crowds from gathering during rath yatra

1500 police personnel were deployed in Jagannath Puri to enforce the curfew

Bhubaneswar, Ta. 22

A curfew has been imposed in Puri district to ensure compliance with government guidelines in the rath yatra. Curfew will remain in Puri district till June 24. No one will be allowed out. There are fears of Koro transition if more people join the rathyatra.

That is why the state government has declared a complete curfew during Jagannath Puri's rath yatra. The rath yatra will take place without the devotees after the Supreme Court verdict. The vision of God will be on TV, but the townspeople will not be allowed to go out. Small rathyatras take place in the entire Puri district. Police have been deployed across the district to prevent it.

In Puri alone, 1500 people have been arranged to enforce the curfew. The process of sending back the devotees from other districts has also been started. The state government had announced the decision to prevent crowds from gathering in Puri during the rath yatra as per the Supreme Court order.